US Territories’ August 6-12, 2018 news week in tweets
Guam Provides Free Meals to All Students
GDOE has been cooking up some big news for students this school year! Thanks to the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), school meals will be provided at NO COST to all 41 GDOE schools in School Year 2018-2019. The CEP was first piloted in 21 of 41 GDOE schools in SY 14-15.🍎 pic.twitter.com/FW9U35cI7L
— GU Dept of Education (@GuamDOE) August 7, 2018
Students at 41 schools in Guam will receive free breakfast and lunch during the school year. The Community Eligibility Provision grant from the US Department of Agriculture supports the meals. Since all students are eligible, no students will experience the stigma of receiving free lunch.
Legalization of Marijuana Passes CNMI House of Representatives
The lawmakers and people of CNMI are on track to make history and more U.S. policymakers would be wise to take notice before the upcoming midterm elections. Via @tomangell in @Forbes https://t.co/o3WfpUX8wI
— NORML (@NORML) August 8, 2018
The CNMI House of Representatives voted to pass a bill legalizing medical marijuana, industrial hemp, and recreational marijuana for adults 21 and over. If the bill is enacted, the CNMI will be the first in the US to legalize marijuana through the House and the Senate. Marijuana supporters hope that the CMNI will lead as an example towards the legalization of cannabis for other states and territories in the US.
Bill to Raise Marriage Age in American Samoa on House Floor
Marriage age closer to being raised in American Samoa https://t.co/YMbpRfvNTy
— RNZ Pacific (@RNZPacific) August 10, 2018
The bill to raise the age of marriage from 14 to 18 in American Samoa passed its second reading in the House of Representatives. In the last legislative session, the bill passed the House of Representatives but was rejected in the Senate.
Florida and Virgin Islands Students Research Ways to Ensure Sustainability of Communities and Resources
Researchers from @USouthFlorida & the University of the Virgin Islands are using a $2.5 million @NSF Research Traineeship award to develop ways of ensuring the sustainability of coastal communities & essential resources such as food, energy & water. MORE: https://t.co/iggKx715Ru pic.twitter.com/IDlFevBMfJ
— USF Alumni Assn. (@USFalumniAssn) August 9, 2018
Over 100 graduate students from the University of South Florida and the University of the Virgin Islands will be trained to create solutions for various problems regarding the changing surroundings of coastal communities, such as rising sea levels and nitrogen pollution.
Puerto Rico admits about 1,427 Died Due to Hurricane Maria
Puerto Rico now admits the death toll from Hurricane Maria could be 1,427 — far higher than the official toll of 64 https://t.co/GVOXtt9MUu pic.twitter.com/ioFszbaetT
— CNN (@CNN) August 10, 2018
The Puerto Rican government admitted that the death toll from Hurricane Maria may be 1,427, compared to the previous announcement of 64. A Harvard study estimated the death toll to be around 4,645. A Puerto Rican official stated that the number from the Harvard study is an exaggeration. A George Washington University study will have certain numbers and is expected to be published this month.
